photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

An excuse to drink? For free?

A free beer tasting takes place next weekend (Nov. 17-18) in Las Vegas, but you must RSVP to reserve your place.

Tasting will be of Budweister lager and ale, comprising interactive lessons that talk about the history of beer, learning how to do "The Perfect Pour," and other fun beer-related tasks.

Sessions take place in sets of 2 on two different dates - Sierra Gold Tavern (6515 S. Jones Blvd.) on Nov. 17 and South Point Casino's Equestrian Center.

Session 1 for both runs 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Session 2 runs 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. And no, you can't attend both sessions.

You must be at least 21 years old and show a valid photo I.D.

To RSVP, visit this link.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

First there was ping pong, then beer pong... what next?

How about topless ping pong?

A tournament of just that occurs Nov. 10 at Sapphire Gentlemen's Club. Sign up by 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. tourney.

Teams are in groups of four, with at least one woman per team. If you're nice enough, you could borrow one of the friendly Sapphire ladies to play with you... with or without their top.

Hmm... if it's a choice of watching the final table of the World Series of Poker or any table of topless ping pong, we know what we'll be cheering.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Stop by Rio Las Vegas this weekend to root for your favorite eaters.

The regular eating competition appears at Rio on Sunday, with eating regulars Joey Chestnut (winner of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest) and even Rich LeFevre coming out of retirement.

This time around, the eaters will be gorging on meatballs from Martorano's restaurant. The eaters have 10 minutes to eat as much as they can.

New rules in place requires contestants to eat with utensils. In competitive eating, the hands are the easiest to scarf down grub.

Viva ELVIS is the new Elvis-themed Cirque du Soleil show that will be at the new ARIA casino, which itself is part of MGM Mirage's new CityCenter.

Viva ELVIS focuses on music of the King, with trademarked Cirque dance and acrobatics, combining it all into the latest technology.

If all goes well, the show will begin Dec. 18.

Directing will be choreographer Vincent Paterson, known for working with Madonna and Michael Jackson. This marks Paterson's first Cirque du Soleil gig, and he took his crew to Graceland for research.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Bette Midler will take the stage at Caesars Palace for her The Showgirl Must Go On show for the last time on Sunday, January 31, 2010. The well received show has been in production for two years at the Colosseum in the Roman Empire Resort. Tickets for the final performances can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com and at the Caesars Palace Box Office.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Las Vegas Strip headliner Marie Osmond, half of the Donny & Marie Osmond show at the Flamingo resort, dumped her longtime manager, P. Karl Engemann, late last month. According to Norm Clark of the Las Vegas Review Journal, the 79 year-old Engemann has been Marie Osmond's manager for the last 35 years until October 23rd when he was informed his services would no longer be needed.

Engemann seeks to collect $88,000 in back commissions from Marie Osmond. It is reported the two Osmonds receive $125,000 each per show at the Flamingo through 2010 and the deal will probably be extended through 2012.

P. Karl Engemann's daughter, Shawn, is the current wife of CNN's Larry King, the same Larry King that ambushed Marie Osmond on his show when he asked about her son going into rehab.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A member of the "Burglar Bunch" was tracked to the Las Vegas home of Rachel Lee.

The Burglar Bunch is a group of young burglars - most in their late teens - who target young celebrities to the tune of $3 million. Lee is 18 years old.

Found inside her home was $20,000 in cash, a pair of actress Rachel Bilson's jeans, a hat of Lindsay Lohan, and partially nude photos of Paris Hilton.

Additional celebrity victims include Megan Fox, Orlando Bloom, Ashley Tisdale, Brian Austin Green, and Audrina Partridge.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Allegiant Air services many smaller cities around the country, which includes Las Vegas.

And now if you book a travel package by Nov. 18 for travel ending by May 31, 2010, you can get a second flight free. The second ticket must be on the same flight.

Travel packages include flight plus hotel.

Cities include:

Appleton, Wisc.
Bellingham, Wash.
Billings, Mont.
Bismarck, N. D.
Bozeman, Mont.
Casper, Wyo.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Des Moines, Iowa
Duluth, Minn.
Eugene, Ore.
Fargo, N.D.
Ft. Collins/Loveland, Colo.
Fresno, Calif.
Grand Forks, N.D.
Grand Island, Neb.
Grand Junction, Colo.
Grand Rapids, Mich.
Great Falls, Mont.
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Kalispell, Mont.
Laredo, Texas
McAllen, Texas
Medford, Ore.
Missoula, Mont.
Monterey, Calif.
Peoria, Ill.
Rapid City, S.D.
Redmond/Bend, Ore.
Rochester, Minn.
Rockford, Ill.
Santa Maria, Calif.
Shreveport, La.
Sioux Falls, S.D.
South Bend, Ind.
Springfield, Mo.
Stockton, Calif.
Tri-Cities, Wash.
Wichita, Kan.
Northwest Arkansas

To book, visit Allegiant Air or call (702) 505-8888.

Blackout dates apply: Nov. 29, Dec. 13-14, Jan. 1-3, Feb. 15-16, and March 1-31.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The holidays are approaching, which means it's time for the annual locals discount to Cirque du Soleil shows around town. Yay!

The economy notwithstanding, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is traditionally a slow time in Las Vegas, and the past few years Cirque has been offering some of its shows at a discount.

This year, Mystere, O, Love, KA, Criss Angel Believe, and Zumanity will have a buy 1, get 1 for only $25 plus an additional $25 gift certificate to another show or toward the Cirque du Soleil gift shop.

The offer runs through February and must be purchased in person at the box office while showing a Nevada I.D.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Fremont Experience in downtown Las Vegas was crowded Saturday night with thousands of Halloween party goers strutting their stuff. Plenty of pirates, witches, goblins, ghosts, and most everything else imaginable had joined the parade for an evening of fun, food, booze, and entertainment. Flipchip was there with Ms Flipchip documenting the scary, strange, and downright weird sights on Halloween night.

Check out the more than thirty images added to the 2009 Halloween Photo Gallery, and as always, gallery images are free for download under our Creative Commons License. Larger size hi-rez photos are ideal for desktop. Photos marked with - mgs - were taken by Ms Flip.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Is Tropicana receiving a makeover?

The venerable hotel-casino could be a whole lot different looking by next year, when it completes its $100 million renovation.

And not just in looks, but internally the talent is a-changing.

The Tropicana is the residence of Wayne Brady where he hosts the reboot of "Let's Make a Deal" (Brady's otherwise at The Venetian for his improv show).

Now Wayne Newton has set up shop at Trop, for possibly his last show before retirement. Newton has been performing for 50 years, which coincidentally is how old the Tropicana is.

Newton stars in "Once Before I Go," complete with full orchestra, video and photo montages, and his own personal memorabilia on display next to the merchandise store.

Tickets run $80 to $100.

Shows are Tuesday-Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Tiffany Theatre and can be purchased by calling (702) 739-2417, (800) 829-9034, or http://www.troplv.com.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harrah's Entertainment tops the list with a net loss of more than a billion dollars compared to last year's reported third quarter net income of $350 million. The Las Vegas based gaming giant and operator of eight Las Vegas resorts including strip flagship, Caesars Palace, blames the losses on the lack of visitors with money to spend.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. reported third quarter net income of $34.2 million, a 33% drop from last year's third quarter income of $52.1 million. Tuesday's news of the decline saw the stock lose about 10% in late trading. On the positive side the report stated it made money and that's proof the shrewd can open a $3 billion dollar ultra resort, operate world destinations on opposite sides of the globe, and turn a profit.

Another glimmer of hope from the gambling industry's latest report card. Las Vegas based gaming giant, Boyd Gaming, reported net income of $6.3 million, down 28% from the $8.7 million reported for the same period last year.

Boyd Gaming wisely announced they were placing the $5 billion Echelon project on the Las Vegas strip on hold for an indefinite period of time. A return to work to finish the project will be dependent on a turn around of the failed economy and probably will come no sooner than 2011 and perhaps closer to 2015.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Across the boulevard the unfinished multi-billion dollar ultra-resort, Fontainebleau Las Vegas, sits silent in the harsh desert light. Why? Because no one wants to risk the billion or so in cash needed to finish the seventy percent completed project. Is the 68 story ultra-luxurious hotel tower destined to become the forever unfinished monolith to mark the day the blues came to Las Vegas?

Most of these projects were conceived during the end of the Las Vegas golden years when strip acreage was going for $30 million instead of today's paltry $12 million. A time when everyone knew the magic formula, "Build it and they will pay $500 a night to sleep in it." This time honored axiom will be severely tested come December when MGM Mirage's city-within-a-city, CityCenter, opens its $11 billion door to the public. If they keep their rooms filled with guest mined from other strip properties has the city really gained much?

The dark clouds of economic gloom blanketing Las Vegas are expected to linger for years to come and that alone guarantees hard times ahead for the once high flying gaming Mecca.

Have a great day.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

What to do with all those Total Rewards points you've built up by playing at any Harrah's property?

Aside from their annual Gift Giveaway (which awards you gift points on top of TR points), you can put those points toward shops, restaurants, rooms, shows -- basically your player's card can be treated like a credit card at any Harrah's property.

But did you know that there's a Total Rewards catalog of high-end merchandise that you can purchase using your points?

Every 100 points is valued at about $1, which goes the same for the catalog.

But monthly specials for Platinum, Diamond, and Seven Stars members can occasionally produce some good deals.

For the month of October, the Cuinart Table Top Gas Grill is normally 31,000 points but on sale for 21,700. The Nikon Coolpix S70 12MP digital camera is normally 56,000 points but on sale for 39,200.

See more deals and the entire catalog at this link. You can browse through the store by item, category, or even by points.

If you're looking to unload a whole bunch of points fast (say, if Harrah's decides to file bankruptcy...), the Catalog is the place.

Note that you must visit a Harrah's casino in person to place an order (to verify ID). They will then ship anywhere you'd like for free.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

With piracy taking a chunk out of box office and large flat screen TVs becoming ever cheaper, movie theaters are looking for new ways to attract people to their theaters.

One successful way is improved 3D technology, which has been such a big boon to the industry that older movies are being enhanced to the new way of viewing.

Another way is bringing the audience member a new kind of movie experience, immersing them in a motion chair.

D-BOX Technologies has developed a chair that moves in sync with the movie. Now you can feel like you're flying along with Astroboy.

In June, 22 chairs were installed at the Galaxy Theatres (at the Cannery in North Las Vegas) and proved to be so successful that 11 more will be added before Christmas.

For more information, visit "D-BOX or Galaxy.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Tonight's Las Vegas-based "Top Chef" has the contestants cooking TV dinners.

And not just your regular salisbury steak/veggie/apple pie kind of TV dinners, but creations inspired by classic TV shows -- "The Brady Bunch," "Happy Days," etc.

The chefs will be whipping up their meals at Craftsteak (at MGM Grand).

Guest judging in the Elimination Challenge will not be a television celebrity but a film celebrity: Natalie Portman, who throws in a twist to the meals.

"Top Chef" airs on Bravo.

British Airways is now offering nonstop flights between London Heathrow and Las Vegas, and for a limited time you can take advantage of the cheapest fares we've seen for intercontinental flights.

For as low as $249 each way, you can travel to London (or from London to Las Vegas). Cheap fares are also available to other European cities.

You must book by Oct. 29 for travel between Nov. 2 and Dec. 20, and Dec. 24 to March 28.

Perhaps BA's main competitor Virgin Atlantic will cut their prices to match. Stay tuned.

Tomorrow night, 97.1 The Point will hold a Pinktober Fashion Show at the Hard Rock Cafe (that's the one on the Strip, not the casino) to recognize National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Join Steph McKenzie (from The Point's morning show), who hosts along with media personalities Kim Wagner and Alicia Jacobs (KVBC-TV), Rachel Smith and Heidi Hayes (KVVU-TV), Dana Roselli (KLAS-TV), Lisa Remillard (KTNV-TV), and Marley Taylor (Zowie Bowie).

Models will be paired up with cancer survivors to show off fashions from local boutiques.

Australian singer/songwriter Lenka will provide entertainment.

The event runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and you must be at least 21.

Cost is $10 or $25 (VIP seats) with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

These days we're always looking for a bargain, and movies are usually the last place to look, as prices keep climbing every year.

Through Nov. 5, Brenden Theatres (at The Palms) has a few special discounts for those who can get out of work early or can stay out late.

Monday through Thursday, all final matinees are only $5.

All final shows of the night are $7.75.

And, if you see the last show of the night (after 9 p.m.), you can pick up a large drink and a medium popcorn for $5.

Can't beat that! Better than all the theater employees dumping the popcorn.

Note that not all films are included, check at the box office to be sure.

For more information, call (702) 507-4849.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

After announcing the signing of Garth Brooks to headline at the Encore Showroom last week tickets went on sale Saturday morning at 8 AM and by 1 PM they were sold out. The first 20 shows in the 1,500 seat showroom is a grand success Tickets have already been spotted on ticket reseller websites with prices over $1,500 each.

Steve Wynn is determined to neuter the scalpers with a dedicated team of sleuths searching out resellers and cancelling their ticket holdings. Show goers are reminded to purchase show tickets through the Encore Wynn box office for guaranteed entry into the show.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A Saturday evening journey to the far west side of Las Vegas ended at Alta and Rampart across from the Suncoast Resort for Flipchip. Located in a corner of the Boca Park shopping complex is the Boca Park Funtime Frightfest and Monster Mayhem's Haunted Mansion, The Boneyard, and Morbid Clown Manor. Something for everyone -- pony rides, Ferris wheels, cemetery, hanging, fun house, pumpkin patch, and genuine carnival food. Go for the haunted houses, stay for the hand dipped corn dogs and aromatic cotton candy.

We've added more photos to our 2009 Halloween Photo Gallery from the stroll through the Monster Mayhem premier Haunted Attraction. New, improved and expanded haunted experiences guarantee a night of fright and lingering fears for those that dare to enter. And finally some good news, one ticket price will get you into all three Monster Mayhem attractions. Yes. the lines were long, but you're constantly entertained by the people running, screaming from the haunts. Beginning at 7 PM nightly October 28 through Halloween.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com